3 Highlights:
1. Hitch by Mike and entertaining conversation all the way to Pinedale
2. Cappuccino at Pine Cafe and lunch at Wrangler Cafe
3. Live music in the park with fellow hikers
Daily Summary:
– Distance hiked: 11 km
– Starting point: Close to Green River
– Ending point: Pinedale after a 45 min hitch
– Weather conditions: Sunny
Daily Reflections (challenges, insights, musings):
Have you ever had lightning strike so close you have to double check all your vital signs just to ensure your not toast? I had tonight. It was made worse by the knowledge that just a few yards away lay Granite, whom just months before had been struck by lightning while reparing a windmill. Was he potentially a lightning magnet? I chose not to raise my concerns in the night out of respect for him potentially undergoing a minor thunder trauma but it took some time to relax with the bombs outside. The night’s thunderstorm and my poor, tapped-out nose left me craving more sleep, and the first few kilometers this morning were a bit of a slog. But then we came to a river—a 30-meter-wide river, mind you—with two moose just casually fording it. Suddenly, I had all the energy in the world. We crossed with gusto, like it was nothing, and not long after, I scored a hitch all the way to Pinedale. Enter Mike, the husband of super nice and super strong SOBO hiker Oz. Mike whisked me away with the best chat about books, life, and politics. Time flew by, and before I knew it, I was sitting at the Pine Cafe with a cappuccino in one hand and a breakfast burrito in the other.
Today was all about food, glorious food. I had three restaurant meals—count ‘em, three!—starting with that burrito, then a Cobb salad for lunch, and some Pad Thai for dinner. In between, I managed to stuff myself with groceries too, because why not? I’m currently holed up in a bunk bed at the Jackalope Motor Inn, surrounded by fellow hikers. I’ve got the top bunk, and honestly, it feels like a small victory.
The evening was a treat, with live music in the park that filled me with excitement and happiness. Them Coulee Boys were playing—a mix of rock and country that just hit the spot. Now, I’m thinking I might take tomorrow off from hiking to read up on the next leg through the Wind River Range and give my overworked legs a break. Time to plan and see if I can afford a little downtime.
